Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says reports he has fallen out with dumped playmaker Matt Giteau are 'nonsense', insisting he still has a good working relationship with the veteran.
Giteau's omission from Deans' 30-man Rugby World Cup squad brought an abrupt and painful end to a seemingly tumultuous coach-player relationship.
Speculation the pair don't see eye to eye has been rife ever since the 28-year-old was overlooked for the Wallabies vice-captaincy two years ago.
Deans flatly refused to explain the reasons for Giteau's non-selection at the official squad announcement at Sydney airport on Thursday morning, but he's adamant he doesn't have a problem with the Toulon-bound back.
"It's nonsense," Deans said of the alleged friction.
"I don't want to get into specific details. It's tough enough for him to swallow without picking over that as well."
"(His attitude) is exceptional. You don't get to play 92 Tests and have that sort of longevity in the game without having a good attitude."
Deans delivered the bad news two hours after touching down from South Africa on Wednesday afternoon.
"He took it well," Deans said.
"There's no easy way to deliver that sort of news."
"We met down at Coogee and I wanted to be able to talk to him face to face."
"I didn't want to impart the message via a text or a phone call, he's earnt that respect."
Giteau spilled the beans on his omission via Twitter several hours before the squad was unveiled.
The coach insists he has no issue with the premature tweet.
"Players are entitled to choice now," Deans said.
"It's like in the game - we support them through their preparation and so forth but ultimately they make their own decisions not only in the game but in life."
The former Force and Brumbies star is one of 10 players who will form a shadow squad to cover injuries throughout the six-week tournament.
He is also expected to line up for the Australian Barbarians against Canada next Friday on the Gold Coast.
Deans refused to divulge whether Giteau is the 'next cab off the rank' but warned all of his fringe players not to drop their heads.
"It's a long road, there's a long way to go," he said.
"We've got a 17-13 (forwards-backs) split so the likelihood of us needing someone beyond the existing group is high."
"But obviously it's a tough call for players like Matt and Hodgo (Matt Hodgson) and Lachie Turner, among others, Ben Daley ... it's a tough thing to swallow."
"But they'll get the opportunity to play next Friday against Canada in what is an international fixture, and the wheel turns."
The 30-man Wallabies squad will assemble in Brisbane on Sunday ahead of their Tri Nations finale against the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium on August 27.